Directory: world air forces
ABBREVIATIONS
AAM air-to-air missile AEW&C airborne early warning and control AJT advanced jet
trainer ANG air national guard ASuW anti-surface warfare ASW anti-submarine warfare
ATM anti-tank missile AWACS airborne warning and control system BVR beyond visual
range CIS Commonwealth of Independent States COMINT communications intelligence
CSAR combat search and rescue DoD Department of Defense EEZ exclusive econom
ic zone ELINT electronic intelligence EMS emergency medical services ESM electronic
support measures EW electronic warfare FLIR forward-looking infrared FMS foreign mil
itary sale GPS global positioning system HOTAS hands on throttle and stick HUD head-
up display IFF identification friend or foe INS inertial navigation system IOC initial oper
ating capability IR infrared ISTAR intelligence surveillance target acquisition and recon
naissance JDAM joint direct attack missile JHMCS joint helmet-mounted cueing system
JSF joint strike fighter JSTARS joint surveillance target attack radar system LGB laser-
guided bomb MIDS multifunction information distribution system MLU mid-life update
MMA multi-mission maritime aircraft MPA maritime patrol aircraft MRAAM medium-
range air-to-air missile NFTC NATO flying training in Canada NVG night vision goggle
PGM precision-guided munition RAF UK Royal Air Force RFP request for proposals RN
UK Royal Navy SAM surface-to-air missile SAR search-and-rescue SDD system devel
opment and demonstration SIGINT signals intelligence STOVL short take-off and verti
cal landing UAV unmanned air vehicle USAF US Air Force USMC US Marine Corps
USN US Navy
ALBANIA VaBmHHIHHHIHHl
FORCAT USHTARAKE AJORE SHGIPETARE
(ALBANIAN PEOPLE'S ARMY AIR FORCE)
The Balkan country's government is only just beginning
to regain control after almost a decade of turmoil and
lawlessness. It was badly affected by spillover from the
conflicts in Kosovo and Macedonia. In April 2002,
Albania announced a major overhaul of its armed
forces, which will be supported by the US DoD. After
years of isolation, the country is now seeking NATO
membership.
Operational activity
The helicopter fleet is heavily tasked to support law and
order agencies, as well as transporting members of the
government.
Procurement
Italy is proposing to supply more helicopters.
Fleet review
The air force is likely to shrink from six to two airbases,
with much of its elderly equipment scrapped and all
fixed-wing aircraft will be withdrawn from service by
2010. Eventually, the air force will number just 400 peo
ple. Around 80 aircraft of various types are up for sale.
Type Active Stored Order/Req
COMBAT AIRCRAFT
F-5/FT-5 8/13
F-6/FT-6 65
TRANSPORT
An-2 11
11-14
COMBAT HELICOPTEF
AB206 ••
AB205 3
SA316/319 4
AS350B 3
Bell 222UT MM
Z-5 31
TRAINING AIRCRAFT
F-2/FT-2
CJ-6
13/11
AL QUWWAT AL JAWWIYA AL JAZA'ERIYA
(AIR FORCE)
Insurgency operations against Islamic militant groups
are the main priority of the Algerian armed forces.
Political concessions and increasingly successful mili
tary operations have significantly reduced the intensity
of rebel activity over the past two years. Although
Algeria still retains strong military ties with France and
Russia in recent years it has increased links with the
USA, which has translated into purchases of specialist
defence equipment, including Raytheon's HISAR syn
thetic aperture radar for Beech 1900D aircraft.
Operational activity
With rebel groups driven out of the main urban areas,
the Algerian air force is in the forefront of surveillance
operations of the country's huge desert interior.
Helicopters are a key element of army tactics in desert
and mountainous regions.
Procurement
Algeria is negotiating with RSK MiG to buy 40-60 new
MiG-29SMTs, in a deal that will include the buy-back of
the country's existing fleet of MiG-21s. In March 2003 a
$180 million order was placed for the purchase of 42
Mi-171s from Russia, and Moscow also offered to sell
Su-27s to the country. South Africa's Advanced
Technologies and Engineering has upgraded 33 Mi-24s
to the Mklll standard using systems developed for the
Rooivalk attack helicopter, as well as a new cannon in
a nose turret and South Africa's Ingwe ATM. Algeria
also has a requirement for up to 12 maritime surveil
lance aircraft, with an order for 10 C-295s being placed
and then reports emerging that this could be cancelled
in favour of C-27Js. An RFP has been issued for an
avionics upgrade to the country's C-130 fleet. Political
considerations are likely to mean only European solu
tions are considered. It could also be launch export
customer for the MiG-AT.
Fleet review
Algeria also has an advanced trainer requirement and
has been linked to 17 surplus Czech L-39s, sold by
Pamco International.
Type Active Stored Order/Req
COMBAT AIRCRAFT
Su-24/MR
SU-27SK/UB
MiG-23BN/MS/U
MiG-25/R/U
MiG-21bis/MF/UM
28/4
14/4
9/3/2
18/36/10
45/15/10/4
ISTAR/SPECIAL MISSION
Beech 1900D 6__
King Air C90B
TANKER
TRANSPORT
iflnnn flHBB^^HH
An-12 4
F27-400M .flHIiMHKiBMi
II-76MD/II-76TD 3/6
C-130H/H-30/L100-30 9/8/2
Gulfstream lll/IV 1/2
CN-235 10/
COMBAT HELICOPTERS
Mi-24D/V/Mi-24 Mklll 8/14/34
MJ-8/MJ-17 56
vti-171
Ka-27 3
Mi-6
AS550B
Bell 412EP 2
MMMM
Ka-32 5
TRAINING AIRCRAFT/HELICOPTERS
L-39ZAMMMI
King AirB200T/C90B
Zlin 142/Safir
T-34C Turbo Mentor
PC-6
UNMANNED AIR VEHICLES
Sender BMi
ARGENTINA
FUERZA AEREA ARGENTINA
(AIR FORCE)
Argentina's economic problems continue to halt many
military procurement projects, but in January 2003 the
government renewed an agreement with Lockheed
Martin Argentina to maintain air force equipment under
a five-year deal worth $40 million a year.
Operational activity
The air force has been involved in no major operations
over the past year.
Procurement
Spain has offered to donate 12 surplus C-212s to
replace the IA50 and AeroCommander 500 fleets. Until
the economic crisis the air force was considering a pur
chase of further airframes for upgrade, as well as TA-
4J Skyhawks for use as lead-in fighter trainers, but its
plans are now uncertain. The air force also has a tenta
tive requirement for 30-40 fighters in the F-16 class. It
has received offers of 12-16 ex-USAF F-16A/Bs or 10
Mirage F1EQs and two F1BQs from Spain. France has
also offered surplus Mirage 2000 aircraft. The air force
has a requirement for in-flight refuelling tankers to sup
port its fighters and more transports. The latter could
be superseded by plans for a C-130 avionics upgrade.
Other plans include a Pucara avionics upgrade.
Lockheed Martin Argentina will deliver 12 more
Pampas by June 2005. The aircraft feature a new Elbit
mission system and digital cockpit, which will also be
retrofitted to the air force's existing Pampas.
Fleet review
Serviceability rates of most main types are still low
because of budget shortages.
Type Active Stored Order/Req
COMBAT AIRCRAFT
A-4AR/TA-4AR 32/4
NesherfDagger A/B 10/1
Mirage IIIEA/DA/CJ 8/2/1
Mirage 5P 17
IA58 Pucara 35
Aero Commander 500 11
ISTAR/SPECIAL MISSION
Learjet 35A/60
707-300
PA-31-310 Navajo
TANKER
KC-130H Hercules
707
TRANSPORT
707-300
C-212
5/1
2
1
2
2
/18
C-130B/H/L-100-30
757-200
F27-400/600
F28-1000/1000C
IA50 Guarani II
DHC-6
Sabreliner 75A
Cessna 182
COMBAT HELICOPTER
UH-1H ^^^
Bell 212
Hughes 500/D/E
SA315B Lama
S-70A ^^^^
S-61NR
S-76B ^^^^
CH-47C
TRAINING AIRCRAFT/HELICOPTERS
PA-28-236/RT
PA-32-220
EMB-312 Tucano
AT-63/IA63 Pampa
Su-29
T-34B Mentor
MS760 Paris IR
COMMANDO DE AVIACION NAVAL ARGENTINA
(NAVY)
Monitoring key shipping routes and economic zones in
the south Atlantic is the main task of the Argentine navy.
42 16-22 NOVEMBER 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com